Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Fatigue Detection Technology Catalog and Review

According to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, fatigue plays a role in up to 20% of fatal commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crashes. Because fatigue is difficult to self-assess, the use of fatigue detection technologies is growing in the CMV industry. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) conducted a comprehensive literature review to identify the types of fatigue detection technologies that are commercially available and detail their respective features for application in CMV operations. The literature review discusses technologies that (i) detect fatigue using physiological sensors from the driver; (ii) use computer vision to monitor driver behavior and positioning; (iii) record and monitor driver performance metrics, and (iv) combine multiple measures in a hybrid approach to monitoring and detection. Informed by the technologies discussed in the literature review, the VTTI research team then developed an inventory of fatigue detection technologies that are currently commercially available for implementation in CMV operations. The inventory details their specific features, capabilities, limitations, applications, and efficacy (where available). Availability, cost, practicality for the industry, and stage of development for testing or implementation are also detailed for each technology. Finally, each technology is categorized, taking into consideration factors such as empirical validation, effectiveness, practicality, and availability.